Cessna 172M accident near New Salem, Massachusetts, December 9, 1997
On December 9, 1997 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12219, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Salem, Massachusetts. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance above the water due to his impairment by drugs. A factor in this accident was the glassy water condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1997 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Salem, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12219 · no longer on the register · serial 17261889
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While over a reservoir, the passenger felt the airplane was low and asked the pilot, 'why don't you pull up a little bit?' The pilot stated the view is better down low and sarcastically asked the passenger, 'what are you scared?' The airplane's wheels then contacted the water and the airplane flipped over. The passenger indicated several times that there were no abnormalities with the airplane's engine, and it was running right up to impact. Additionally, passenger stated the pilot was adjusting a rotating wheel in the airplane's center console just prior to the impact and the water over the reservoir appeared very smooth, like a sheet of ice. Examination of the airframe did not disclose any abnormalities. Toxicological tests detected levels of cocaine and drugs used for control of cold/allergy symptoms with illness effects of distraction, sensory disturbance or impaired judgement.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 315 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7B6 Warehouse Point MA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from CEF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N12219 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.